If it’s not, it may keep automatically calling the security company – and this can interfere with your broadband connection as well as being a general nuisance.

Before settlement day, the previous owner should have cancelled the contract with the security company and had the auto-dial feature disabled. Sometimes this second stage doesn't happen and the alarm system carries on dialling the security company – even though the new owner has no contract with them.

Some systems allow the auto-dialling to be disabled over the phone, with the security company talking the homeowner through the process. Sometimes a visit from a technician is required.

We say

• Make sure the previous owner cancelled the contract and has had the auto-dial disabled.
• When you take possession of the house, call the security company to confirm that auto-dial has been disabled.